FHS girls' soccer still in the SCC title hunt

FAIRHAVEN — The Fairhaven High School girls' soccer team qualified for the postseason a long way back, but they're hungry for more.

The Lady Blue Devils have Apponequet on the radar and are hoping to knock off the currently undefeated Lady Lakers when they visit to Lakeville this Friday afternoon. Fairhaven (11-1-3, 9-1-3 SCC) will need a win over Apponequet and some help from other SCC teams to win the SCC title, but anything can happen with four games to play.

"We are doing quite well so far this season," said head coach Derek Galvam, "and while every team has injuries, we've had to battle through several key injuries all at the same time."

Senior goalie Katy Langlois was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon in the beginning of October. Senior forward and co-captain Emma Morehead has dealt with a couple of nagging injuries, and sophomore Hannah Abrantes is still nursing an ankle injury.

While the season-ending injury to Langlois might have been an insurmountable loss to some teams, sophomore Taylor Canastra is using her experience as a starting goalie in her freshman season last year to her advantage.

While Langlois had shutout the opponent eight times in 11 games this season and will be missed, Canastra has only allowed one goal in the two contests she has started and has a 1-1 record.

Overall, the defense has done an outstanding job, and Galvam points to senior co-captain and sweeper Cecile Pereira and senior stopper Amy Silvia as his "rocks" on back line.

On offense, senior forward and co-captain Kayli Berche leads the team with 17 goals and three assists. Morehead is close behind with 12 goals. Senior co-captain Ashley Pereira, a center-midfielder, has had an all-star type year, according to Galvam.

Sophomores Allison Lima and Hannah Abrantes have been solid at midfield for the Lady Blue Devils all season, as has the play of Kayli Berche's younger twin sisters, freshman Kaci and Kari Berche. Kari has been particularly effective at outside-defense.

Senior Madison Shields and sophomore Taryn MacGregor, both at midfield, have contributed to the team's success, and in the last couple of games, freshman Elizabeth Cadieux has come on strong.

Heading into this week's competition, Fairhaven has scored 39 goals in 13 games, but Galvam feels there should have been more.

"We have had numerous opportunities on corner kicks and throw-ins so far this season," said Galvam, "but we just couldn't capitalize."

Apponequet and Old Rochester still stand in the way of a conference championship, but this Fairhaven girls' soccer team has their sights on going deep into the state tournament before the 2012 season is over.